I have no respect for people who do not deserve respect, but demand it

Posted by admin on July 8th, 2006 filed in General

I chanced upon a perceptive and lucid blog post written by Tan Tarn How over here on his personal blog. I shall quote here the relevant portion which I wish to comment on.

3) Politics must be treated seriously, andpoliticians must be respected like one respects one’s uncle(this was how it has been put before by the government itself). It is useful to remember that Catherine Lim’s most serious misdemeanour in the eyes of the government is, more than anything else, her inappropriate and insufficiently awed tone of voice when talking about the prime minister. mr brown’s form and style of writing – which has ranged from the satire of his famous podcasts to the cynicism of the offending column at hand - is something that goes against the principle of seriousness and respect. Satire uses the tactic of laughter to further its strategy of contempt. Cynicism is the black ice on which all attempts at serious discussion slip and fall. There is really no effective way to counter satire and cynicism. Nevertheless censorship is in some ways the least ineffective.

 

Mr Tan’s observation, if true, really burns me up. It makes me well and truly furious. I am seething with anger as I am sitting here typing this post out.

Let me state thatI despise and detest any person who demands respect simply on the basis of age or social position. So you are a civil servant or high ranking official or a minister. Or you are really old. So fucking what? You want to get your knickers in a twist when your claim to fame is piddling power on a small island nation? Or that you happen to live long enough to see your balls sag down to your knees?

Even more despicable are those who coerce and force one to submit to their power, into involuntarily giving that respect. If there ever was a single reason why I am libertarian, this would be it.

It is for this reason why I reject the notion of “Asian values”, why I despise anyone who propounds it, who thinks that it exists. Look at the facts: those who unquestioningly obey and submit to authority under the excuse of “Asian values” are the ones sitting at home, jobless and helpless. Those who demand respect and obeisance on the basis of “Asian values” do not know how to live, adapt and flourish in a globalised economy, and only know how to function as parasites feeding on taxes and levies.

The only two things people should ever consider respecting are Truth and Logic. No other. None other.

Tan Tarn How: On The Management of Dissent